Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 95
Date: Wednesday, 3 April 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 95
Wednesday, 3 April 1996
Today's Topics:
lyrical dementia
James and the Giant Peach
Chain of Office
Re: Mayor of Simpleton
The High Llamas
Misheard lyrics
Mayor of Simpleton
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-93
SF Bay Area-ites
Trib Tape Song List
Re: Rolling Stone
Chain of office
No new XTC, Just Heads
new XTC cover
Another moon?, Misheard Lyrics, Akiko Yano...
Cars, Pagans, Seasons and Chairs
MORE ON JELLYFISH'S DIFFERENCES
Rockapella-Yazbek-Rockapella
huh?
Chain of command
Dumper trucks
The Green Man
chain of office
Helium Kidz lyrics
Andy's 120 Minutes clip
The Speaking Man
Old punks also don't get much respect
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There are no secrets in Star Park.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 15:23:43 -0500 Message-Id: <v01510100ad86f4b36eff@[128.230.1.79]> From: pebrantl@mailbox.syr.edu (Paul Brantley) Subject: lyrical dementia I probably shouldn't admit this, but guess the source of this mis-heard lyric: "I'm like a rock and roll, barber-shop freak!" (I was given a poor qualtity cassette dub). So, my nomination for a tribute album title is: "The Barber Shop Freaks" Paul
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 15:04:51 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <199604022104.PAA15327@is.rice.edu> From: kimw@rice.edu (Kim E. Williams) Subject: James and the Giant Peach >To: Mike <koorism@gusun.acc.georgetown.edu> > >Lastly, as for this 'James and the Giant Peach' stuff, both my brother and >I were wondering if any of his demos were accepted to be used in the >soundtrack(just because 4 didn't make it doesn't necessarily mean that >none did). Just curious...the bastards should be shot if they didn't >take any of his songs! I agree completely about them being shot if they didn't...but they didn't. The producer was very keen about having Andy do the soundtrack, and so was he, but after writing the four songs, Andy asked to see a contract. The terms were so abysmal that Andy tried to renegotiate in order to be able to complete the stuff, but Disney pulled the plug and got Randy Newman to do it instead. Andy only wrote four songs for the movie and none are in it. Sorry!
------------------------------ From: Martin_Monkman@fincc04.fin.gov.bc.ca Date: Tue, 02 Apr 1996 14:20:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Chain of Office Message-id: <9603028284.AA828483500@FINSMTP1.FIN.GOV.BC.CA> J. D. Mack's questions: >In the song "The Mayor Of Simpleton," right after the line "then I'm the >man who grew the money tree," the answer line is "No chain of office and no >hope of gettng one." At least, according to the lyric book, that's what >that line is. My question is two-fold. 1.) What is a chain of office? >Is this one of those British things completely lost on Americans like me? >and 2.) might the lyric actually be "No CHANGE of office ..." It sort of >sounds like that to my ears, and it makes more lyrical sense, as in Andy is >the Mayor, and he can't change that. My answers: 1a. A Chain of Office is part of the regalia of the mayor's office. A chain of office is a big, ostentatious necklace (the Queen's equivalent is a crown -- which is just a big, ostentatious hat). 1b. Canadian mayors wear a Chain of Office, so it's not exclusively British. Given that many other countries (including the United States of America) are former British colonies, I'm guessing the mayors there might wear a chain of office, too. 2. In light of the answers to Question 1, the lyrics as printed are correct. It's just part of one of those clever extended metaphors. Martin
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Message-Id: <19897.9604022213@molnir.brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Mayor of Simpleton Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 23:13:14 +0100 (BST) # From: "J. D. Mack" <jdmack@nicom.com> # # "No chain of office and no hope of gettng one." # ...What is a chain of office? Simple. Mayors wear a chain around their necks to signify being the mayor. Usually quite an elaborate affair with lots of gold and gilt and a big medallion thing hanging down over their chest. I think (though I've never actually seen this myself) the 'swearing in' ceremony includes 'crowning' (for want of a better word) the mayor by putting the chain around his neck. # ...might the lyric actually be "No CHANGE of office ..." It sort of # sounds like that to my ears, and it makes more lyrical sense, as in Andy is # the Mayor, and he can't change that. Obviously not. In light of the above, Andy seems (to me) to be talking about *not* being the "real" mayor, "only" the "Mayor of Simpleton". i.e. "I'm not one of these stupid upper-class power-hungry types, I'm just an ordinary guy". Or something like that. Makes sense to me. -P _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 13:38:32 -0800 (PST) From: Mike Wheeler <mwheeler@gladstone.uoregon.edu> Subject: The High Llamas Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960402133502.20459C-100000@gladstone> Phil wrote: > For those who aren't listening to it RIGHT now (i.e. those who haven't > bought it yet): There is a new High Llamas album out now, it's called > Hawaii, it has 29 tracks and it is _gorgeous_. So there. Unfortunately this album has yet to be released in the U.S. and there is no date scheduled yet. > "Stunning vistas to the left and to the right > It's the goosey in the bucket on the bike" > > Who needs Andy Partridge when Sean O'Hagan is such a complete genius? > > And by the way, if anyone knows the wherabouts of a copy of The High > Llamas "Santa Barbara", preferably the French version with extra tracks, > I will pay them handsomly for it... The French version is the ONLY version of "Santa Barbara" it is an extension of the British EP called "Apricots" both of these are out of print but The High Llamas label (Alpaca Park) owns the rights to these now as opposed to the original label and plans to re-release them sometime. I recently started a page for The High Llamas. It's still in the early development stages, but it has a complete discography and some other interesting stuff. The URL is in my sig. Mike -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mike Wheeler "What matters to me is what I can be to just one girl" Web Page for Brian Wilson/The High Llamas/Spinal Tap/Architecture all at http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~mwheeler mwheeler@gladstone.uoregon.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 10:20:26 -0600 (CST)
Message-Id: <199604021620.KAA11861@sky.net>
From: Scott Taylor <staylor@sky.net>
Subject: Misheard lyrics
>My favorite XTC mistaken lyric came about at my wedding reception. We had
>about 150 people on the dance floor jumping around to "No Thugs In Our
>House". By the last chorus, two of my wife's bridesmaids were singing
>(yelling, really) in unison, "No Drugs In Our House". Actually, that
>mistake fits pretty well when you consider the rest of the lyrics, but we
>thought it was pretty funny.
>
>Anyone else have a favorite mistaken lyric they want to share?
The comedian/singer/songwriter Tim Cavanaugh used to do a whole bit in his
routine based on the way his brother used to sing along to songs,
substituting his own misheard lyrics where appropriate. One standout was
his contribution to "California Girls" (keeping up the Beach Boys thread
here), to the effect of
"And the northern girls, with the way they kiss
They make the bison swarm at night"
His finest moment came with his personal interpretation of Nena's "99
Luftballons", which he claims he worked out for himself after discovering
that the English-version "99 Red Balloons" was not a literal translation of
its German counterpart. Calling upon his high-school German training, he
came up with "99 Dead Baboons", featuring such lines as
"That one's Jake, this one's Dinah,
There's big Ned in my recliner
No it's not a La-Z-Boy
Can't you see it's a Dead Baboon?"
Throughout he throws in completely nonsensical non sequitirs ("But what a
happy snorkeling device"), whereupon he stops the music and apologizes that
his German is a just little rusty.
I don't recall ever hearing him do anything to an XTC song, but it appears
that the Swindonians' music lends itself particularly well to
misinterpretation. For years, I myself have heard Colin sing
"I'll put pants on you
Just us and the cuckoos"
This notion seems to go against the general grain of the song, I suppose.
I'm still not convinced that's not what he's singing, however, liner lyrics
notwithstanding. But I am absolutely sure he's singing "Straight t'ya" in
"The Loving." I've never been able to hear anything else, try as I might.
Scott M. Taylor (staylor@sky.net)
/-----------------------------------------\
| Like a pig pulls a cartload of sausages |
| Guess I'm drawing my own conclusion |
| - Julian Cope |
\-----------------------------------------/
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 17:51:17 -0500 (EST) From: Nancy B LaMotta <sisnbl@gwunix2.gwu.edu> Subject: Mayor of Simpleton Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91.960402174928.50879C-100000@gwunix2.gwu.edu> No, you're right the first time, it is chain of office, and, at least in Sir Thomas More's time (Henry VIII-era), the chains were ponderous and worn about the neck. In "A Man for All Seasons," Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of England, wears his in his robes of state. At the end of the movie, during his trial for treason, he turns on his traitorous accuser, Richard Rich, and comments, "That's a chain of office you're wearing. What for?" and Rich answers, "I am Attorney General for Wales," (or something like that), and More replies, pained and disgusted to the effect of "Richard... to lose your soul... for Wales?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For people who like that sort of thing... that is the sort of thing they like.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 14:35:54 -0500 (EST) From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@moose.uvm.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-93 Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.960402143408.129698E-100000@moose.uvm.edu> Regarding misconstrued lyrics, my wife and I were discussing what music we both like(which isn't much), and the subject of Prince came up. She said, "Well, I like his song "Raspberry Parade."
------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 13:37:33 -0800
Message-Id: <1619e840@corp.octel.com>
Subject: SF Bay Area-ites
I know of a few but the lurkers could number in the hundreds, so,
could the Silicon Valley or S.F. Bay Area Chalkhillbillies emial me.
I was kinda thinking about a Trib Tape Release Party but I don't know
the numbers of locals. ...or for that matter if any SoCals and other
satellites would trip up for the preview.
If you are interested email me at: richard.pedretti-allen@octel.com
I make no promises, especially if this looks like it would turn into a
chaos generator... I'm just wondering...
Cheers, Richard
------------------------------
From: richard.pedrettiallen@octel.com
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 13:32:23 -0800
Message-Id: <1619dca0@corp.octel.com>
Subject: Trib Tape Song List
Here is the list of songs that may end up on the (soon to be named?)
Tribute Tape.
I will attempt to compile them in chronological (based on the original
release date) order.
There are still a few people who are undecided as to what they will
record and haven't registered their selection or are torn between
several tracks. I am one of those people because I can't figure out
the chords to any of the songs I try.
"XTSea" Medley
1000 Umbrellas
Scissor Man
Toys
All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)
Battery Brides
Dear God
Disque Bleu
Dying
Everything
Generals & Majors OR Bike Ride To The Moon OR Your Gold Dress
I'm Bugged OR Ballet For A Rainy Day
It's Nearly Africa
Living In A Haunted Heart
Making Plans for Nigel OR Grass OR The Disappointed
Meeting Place
My Love Explodes
Over Rusty Water
Punch & Judy OR Burning with Optimisms Flame
Respectable Street
Rocket From A Bottle OR Roads Girdle The Globe
Rook
Sacrificial Bonfire
Season Cycle
Ten Feet Tall
Thanks For Christmas
This World Over
Travels In Nihilon
When We Get To England
Wrapped in Gray
?
?
?
This whole process has been an interesting one for me because I don't
want to make an exact copy of the original so I end up thinking of
other ways of doing music of which I am very fond. I have never tried
to analyze how I would change music that I like as is. I AM
FLUMMOXED.
It is too late to submit the name suggestion "Civilisation Agrees" so
it will have to wait until next year.
Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Message-Id: <c=US%a=_%p=INTERGRAPH%l=HQ6960402123515JA006900@hq14.pcmail.ingr.com> From: "Kirby, Jay (John E)" <JEKirby@ingr.com> Subject: Re: Rolling Stone Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 12:35:15 -0600 In a previous digest Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> complained: > Anyone, though, who makes their music selections based on RS preferences > deserves what they get. Same for Spin, for that matter. Now Op, or > Option, is a different story... Most periodicals that review anything generally have one writer cover a single item and it is his/her opinion only that you read. For "best of" summarizations everyone gets to vote so you get a more balanced assessment. I can recall a review I did of Genesis's "And then there were Three" in college (dating myself there) where I blasted it, but for our end of year round up it got a best of year nod from the combined reviewers (Not from me, mind you). We got a similar complaint about our change of opinion, as Jeff voiced. In my experience the best way to find deserving material via reviews is to find someone you often agree with. This will take reading a significant number of reviews, but can be rewarding, even in RS... ... Jay Kirby (jekirby@ingr.com)
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Apr 96 22:33:33 BST Message-Id: <9604022133.AA23491@rdf002.cs.man.ac.uk> From: Toby Howard <toby@cs.man.ac.uk> Subject: Chain of office In England, Mayors of towns traditionally wear a 'mayoral chain' around their necks, which is like a kind of demented linked horse-brass, stretching from their necks to their navels. A supremely British, overblown, heavy, mock-gold affair. I regularly pass the Counil buildings of Manchester on my way to work, and often spot our Lord Mayor in his mayoral robes reclining in the back seat of his chauffeur-driven Daimler. And yea, verily, is he swathed in his 'chains of office'. But no simpleton, he. Toby * -------------------------------------------------------------- Toby Howard, Lecturer Co-editor *The Skeptic* magazine toby@cs.man.ac.uk http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/staff/toby Tel: +44(0)161-275-6274 Fax: +44(0)161-275-6236 Advanced Interfaces Group, Department of Computer Science University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK * --------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ From: Gene_Yoon@brown.edu Message-Id: <v02130501ad877d6ed0bf@[128.148.184.54]> Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 20:20:22 -0500 Subject: No new XTC, Just Heads >From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) > >And the "Heads" already >have released a track on a computer-movie soundtrack whose name escapes me >right now. The song is called "No Talking, Just Heads" with our favorite bleached babe Debbie--oops I mean Deborah--Harry. Her voice hasn't aged much in twenty years, still dreamy and sexy. My brother (who is responsible for afflicting XTC on me ten years ago) just lent me Blondie 'Blonde and Beyond', a collection of unreleased, b-side and live songs, and I can't stop playing it. I interviewed Donnie Brown from the Verve Pipe when the band was in Providence two weeks ago and he was absolutely drooling over "Paper Snow", the new Heads song with Andy Partridge on it. He heard it when the Verve Pipe were in the studio and their producer Jerry Harrison brought it in one day, and Donny said the song is *GREAT*. I trust him, but only because the VP are so good, and I've always liked Talking Heads. The Verve Pipe are all XTC diehards, though Donny, the drummer, is the winning fanatic. April is going to be a spare month for me money-wise, since I already know four CD's I really must buy: the Verve Pipe's 'Villains', the new Voice of the Beehive (even if it didn't have Andy on it), Barenaked Ladies, and Fred Schneider's new solo album. Maybe even the new Cure, even though I'm not especially thrilled with the new single. Then I'll be even poorer since I'll have to get a new CD tower to house my hemorrhaging collection (a whole column on my current forty-incher is devoted to XTC, of course). And now they're coming out with a new digital format so that the record company bloodsuckers can repackage all their back catalogue! Sheesh! The cost of good listening keeps soaring.... Gene
------------------------------ From: ZITTEL@aol.com Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 20:09:48 -0500 Message-ID: <960402200948_367979865@emout08.mail.aol.com> Subject: new XTC cover There is a new XTC cover song that has been released. The band Moonshine Willy has released a 7" single of "Complicated Game" on the Chicago label Bloodshot Records. I just sent away for my copy so I have not heard it yet. Kim from Moonshine Willy says it is done "bluegrassy-styley". For others interested in getting the single, it costs only $4.00 and that includes postage. You can also write for their catalog. There address is: Bloodshot Records 912 W. Addison Chicago, IL 60613-4339 phone (312)248-8709 fax (312)248-8702 Their e-mail address is: Bludshot@mcs.com
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01530502ad879061378d@[202.241.19.135]> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 11:53:29 +0900 From: hellman@tanaka.jrdc.go.jp (Olof Hellman) Subject: Another moon?, Misheard Lyrics, Akiko Yano... Hi folks: Mark Fisher sez: >I forgot to mention in my last post what Andy said to me about *Moon On >Your Dress*, one of the songs on Terry Hall's LP. Apparently, as he first >wrote it (and those under the age of 27 should shield their eyes at this >point), it was about a semen stain on a woman's dress .... Another potential interpretation for 'Another Satellite'? <grin> By the way, I hope there wasn't any reason why that one was posted on April first.... I really like it when people contribute their interpretations of XTC lyrics. Not that I think many of them are probable, but my outlook on songs like 'Satellite', 'Millions', 'Pink Thing' and 'Rook' has changed quite a bit in the months I've been reading. Keep sending 'em in, folk. Misheard Lyrics: when I first bought the 'Great Fire' EP 10 years ago, I could have sworn the lyrics went 'Looks as if you're dropping mirrors like the Croats' which I assumed was a reference to the general unluckyness of the Balkans and some Croatian penchant for superstition. Obscure XTC Connection: One of my favourite obscure artists (in the US anyway) is Akiko Yano. I've found three links between Yano and Andy P: 1) Both Yano and Andy P. have worked with Saeko Suzuki: Andy produced Suzuki's 'I wish it could be Christams everyday (in the U.K.)' (not a bad tune, by the way) and Suzuki appeared on Yano's 'Oesu Oesu' 2) Andy P. has worked with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yano's husband and often appears in the credits of her work. 3) Both Andy P. and Yano appear on Thomas Dolby's 'Golden Age of Wireless'. Yano sings a few of the 'She blinded me with science' tracks, and if you listen carefully, you'll hear spoken near the end of the song 'Good heavens, Ms. Sakamoto, you're beautiful'. Now you know. Anyone know any more? I can recommend Yano's 'Ramen Tabetai' (I want to eat ramen) as one of the most well-crafted Japanese pop songs ever. (not that it's well-known in Japan or anythung...) That's it for now. - Olof Olof Hellman Tanaka SolidJunction Project / JRDC http://marcie.jrdc.go.jp/och/Olof.html
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 16:45:51 +1200 (NZST)
Message-Id: <v01530504ad885c350282@[139.80.100.241]>
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Cars, Pagans, Seasons and Chairs
"Brian T. Marchese" sez, re: speedy Barry and the Fish
>As for Barry, this is kind of a stretch, but he seems to have been the
>biggest drug experimentor in the band. One story in the book mentions
>mushrooms, and in the excerpt from Steve Warren's tour diary of '77 (one
>of the highlights of the book, IMHO), he mentions spotting Barry backstage
>"sniffing some strange substance", which I assume to have been a serious
>stimulant--coke or speed being popular drugs of the punk era. What do cars
>do? Speed! Therefore, Barry's other identity is well-earned.
IIRC, The title of the Jefferson Airplane song "She has funny cars" is an
obscure drugs reference, so this is possible, although probably not likely.
>Unrelated: Anyone ever see the film "Wicker Man"? It concerns a girl who
>runs away to a neo-Pagan area in Scotland (it's been a while since I saw
>it). Anyway, when I was watching it, it struck a very XTC-ish chord...
Starred Edward Woodward, set on a Hebridean Island, and had an evil wee
twist in the ending. Good movie, and... well, it's from the same tradition.
Quite a bit of XTC has a certain 'pre-Christian feel' lyrically (and, in
one case, in the cover art!). Several of their songs celebrate the Season
Cycle in one way or another. In fact, for this sort of pagan imagery, the
only band I feel happy mentioning in the same breath as XTC would be Jethro
Tull ("Dun Ringhill", "Jack-in-the-green", etc.). There are undoubtedly
others (hell, I've written and performed pagan-ish songs myself!), but XTC
are right up at the top there in this type of music, for sure.
-
Re: Creaking Chairs...
I've heard exactly that noise before, every time my guitar strap rubs
slightly against my guitar. It's a creaking guitar strap. I think.
-
Erik Anderson a dit, re: xTc Season Cycle
>I, too, equate certain XTC songs with certain times of the year.
>Winter is a good time for [...] "Thanks for Christmas."
winter? Surely you mean summer! ;)
James ("sexism and racism I've heard of - but hemisphericism???")
James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago.
Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand
pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807
* You talk to me as if from a distance
* and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time,
* from another time (Brian Eno)
------------------------------ From: vancha@microcity.com Message-Id: <199604030531.VAA22517@sgi.sgi.com> Date: 2 Apr 1996 23:31:00 CST Subject: MORE ON JELLYFISH'S DIFFERENCES I just wanted to clear up the gist of my last letter about Jellyfish. While I did suggest, without knowing, that Jellyfish might not have been influenced by Queen, I can't argue that they may be fans of Queen. I was just pointing out that there are a lot of elements in their songs and on their records that don't take anything from Queen or many other rock bands. If you listen to the two bands records, you can see that. If Jellyfish are still copying Queen or anyone else this far into their career, they might be in trouble with their craft and I'd feel sorry for them. I know what it is like to be compared to Queen because I use a lot of big harmony vocals in my music and am always being compared to Queen. However, Queen is not one of my favorite rock bands and I don't have much of their music. I like XTC and The Beatles much better than Queen and I thought it might be so with Jellyfish too. I wouldn't blame Jellyfish if they liked XTC and were fans. Who isn't a fan of XTC? But if they are fans of XTC and if being a fan implies they draw on XTC as an influence, Jellyfish have created their own heavier sound and added elements XTC would never consider putting in their music. MV
------------------------------ Date: 03 Apr 96 01:35:11 EST From: Sally Unterman <103274.3106@compuserve.com> Subject: Rockapella-Yazbek-Rockapella Message-ID: <960403063511_103274.3106_IHH60-1@CompuServe.COM> Dearest Chalkhellions: Tuesday 4/9 will be a rare night for fans of quirky pop in NYC. Yazbek plays at The Fez at 9:30 and his buddies Rockapella play 2 blocks away at the Bottom Line at 7:30 and 10:30. I intend to see all three shows, and then collapse naked in a pool of my own ecstatic sweat. Rockapella's lead singer and songwriter, Sean Altman, is a high school & college friend/bandmate of Yazbek, and the pair co-wrote the theme song for Rockapella's TV show "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?" (which they dueted at HMV!) and sang backup together on XTC's "Cherry In Your Tree." How do I know all this? Am I sleeping with them both? No - I just read about it on Rockapella's website, which has many Yazbek references, and I'm happily on both Yazbek's and Rockapella's email lists. Thanks, Dave, for the cheek kiss at HMV. Hope to meet some of you on 4/9. - Sally U.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199604030836.RAA07670@patton.gate.asahi-net.or.jp> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 17:42:18 +0900 From: mn8t-mls@asahi-net.or.jp (Ted Mills) Subject: huh? Mark Fisher sez: "In the meantime, they've amassed 28 songs and, as reported here before, they'd like to do two CDs, one mellow/classical, one hard-edged. They'd either be sold separately or together (or the whole idea could be ditched by a new record label, because it's not as profitable for record companies to have more than ten songs on an album because more mechanical copyright fees have to go to the artists)." I don't get this last sentence. Why is this so? What are mechanical copyright fees? "Sorry, Andy, 11 tracks - now we're getting mechanical!" It's hard to find albums the days with only 10 tracks... Ted ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ted Mills "Money doesn't talk, Crystal Mansion 201 it swears..." Shimotakatsu 2-3-21 - Bob Dylan Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki-ken Japan 300 mn8t-mls@asahi-net.or.jp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01510100ad87e3c8bb40@[194.128.83.69]> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 09:49:25 +0000 From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) Subject: Chain of command A chain of office, referred to in Mayor of Simpleton, is the phrase used to describe a mayor's chain, usually a big ceremonial golden affair round his/her neck that denotes his/her "office" or position. A British reference I suppose. Mark Fisher (fisher@easynet.co,uk)
------------------------------ From: jde@abingdon.geoquest.slb.com (Jon Eva) Message-Id: <9604031124.ZM19137@rs560.abingdon.geoquest.slb.com> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 11:24:20 +0000 Subject: Dumper trucks Dear All, Another five star rating for XTC - this time in "What Hi-Fi?" magazine, which in the April edition reviewed and gave the thumbs up to a cd player called XTC made by Orelle, surely a "must-have" for any very rich fans out there (it costs over two thousand pounds). If you still have some loose change left after buying this, you might consider purchasing an XTC dumper truck or van - there is a landscaping firm that operates near where I work (about ten miles from Uffington) called White Horse Contractors, all their vehicles are painted olive green with the famous white horse / cat stenciled on the bonnet and they look exactly how you would imagine an English Settlement album cover with wheels on would look. I have a final (and doubtless too late) suggestion for the tribute tape - how about making a Go2 style cover, with all the suggestions for the name for the tape written on it?
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 09:48:19 -0500 Message-Id: <ad87fa18020210047de3@[204.168.71.185]> From: comlit2@pppmail.nyser.net (Computer Center Lab) Subject: The Green Man Hello. Warning: Another Song Interpretation. Since Steve dared everyone, here's a few brief thoughts I wanted to throw out for you to pass over, digest, what-have-you. First, The Green Man, by Kingsley Amis, is a book published in 1969 (Not sure if its still in print). Basically, without ruining the story for anyone, the book "records" the manners, norms, and mores of Britain's New Elizabethan society. Maurice Allington is the main character, he is a misanthropic hypochondriac and an alcoholic. One night he has visions of an image of twigs, stems, and leaves in a manlike figure. "To make a long story short...." a lot of variously related action takes place in Moe's life, finally he meets God and the two have an enlightening conversation. Moe reflects on the conversation and his own mortality. I'll let you find out what happens to the green man, actually--I can't remember , it's been a good 10-15 years since I read this book. Well, leaving that aside, basically to bring up a point that was discussed quite a while ago, (and quite well and often), is the Romantic nature of Andy's song writing. I first thought of "The Green Man" as 'love the earrth, save the trees, save the whales', all that stuff. Now, after listening to it a few times, I think more of its 'Romantic'-ness, the healing power of Nature, a Romantic doctrine, "lay your head on the green man". Also, issues of God/Nature appear, God/Nature being both external and internal to humanity, "hills to the shore", "to his arms", etc. Anyway, I know that is really basic but I do not have time for more. I know that the others with Lit./Critical Theory backgrounds probably will say more on the topic, so there's a jumping off point. Enjoy. Chuck.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 10:01:59 -0500 Message-Id: <199604031501.KAA04153@freenet3.carleton.ca> From: am352@freenet.carleton.ca (Erich Walther) Subject: chain of office J.D. mack was asking about a chain of office in Mayor of Simpleton. A chain of office is literally that - a big heavy chain the mayor or chief magistrate wears about their neck. It usually supports an emblem representing the city or town. Wouldn't be surprised if it harkens back to the days of guilds. BTW, thank you Mark Fisher for the news! It's great to know that there's an actual connection to our lads here from time to time. Maybe we should all chip in and buy Andy an internet connection - I think he'd get a kick out of our collective musings ;-) Erich in Ottawa.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 18:02:27 +0100 From: sellheim@zfn.uni-bremen.de (Erich Sellheim) Message-Id: <9604031702.AA46022@alf.zfn.uni-bremen.de> Subject: Helium Kidz lyrics Hello everyone, in the last few issues someone asked for Helium Kidz lyrics,and some other person posted lyrics to Star Park. There are a few lines in there that I hear differently; here are my suggestions: There are no secrets in Star Park We'll rendezvous to a peacock's call There are no secrets in the trees We tell them out (or all) so constantly I only sing and dance to please A foreigner from no country There are no secrets in Star Park I said I'd be by you after night So take your jet now,catch a spark We won't get back if it runs not right Any corrections welcome; the same goes for Private Eye, which I tried to figure out: I've got a private eye to see if you've a mother I've got a private eye to find out where you go I've got a private eye to see if you've a lover I've got a private eye to tell me what you know You really should tread much more careful Or you're going to get a stare full(?) from my private eye I've got a private eye to search the seas and skies I've got a private eye to follow you around I've got a private eye to tear off your disguise I've got a private eye to make you look just like a clown You really should... I've got a private eye to see if you've a mother... It nearly stopped my heart from beating When I found out you were meeting my private eye I also have most of the lyrics of Saturn Boy and Walking Across The Ceiling which I could post in the near future if anyone's interested. So long, Erich
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 10:22:54 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <199604031622.KAA07303@sky.net> From: Scott Taylor <staylor@sky.net> Subject: Andy's 120 Minutes clip >Most of you probably saw the "120 Minutes" 10th Anniversary special on >MTV yesterday. It did include a brief snippet from AP's appearance--when >was that, 1989 or so? As you recall, AP and Dave "I am an idiot" >Ken-Dull were standing in Central Park and Dave asked AP what was the >strangest thing he'd ever done in a park. AP looked in the camera and >said, "Cut!" Then "This is a family show." That exchange wasn't nearly I saw this clip too and was puzzled by Andy's evasive response to what appeared to be a relatively innocent query. I think the problem here was that Andy misunderstood the question... He obviously thought Dave had asked him "What's the strangest thing you've ever done with a shark?" Of course, we've all heard that story. His reticence is understandable. ST staylor@sky.net
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 10:52:04 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: <199604031652.KAA10904@sky.net> From: Scott Taylor <staylor@sky.net> Subject: The Speaking Man >Message-Id: <v01510100ad85c6d59a9d@[194.128.83.69]> >Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 19:22:11 +0000 >From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) >Subject: the man himself speaks > >I've just come off the phone from Andy Partridge! (And no, I'm not giving >out his number). I had a good chat with him and I wish I could pass on vast >quantities of news but, by the sounds of it, things are much the same as >they have been for some time. This was one of the better posts we've seen here in some time. PLEASE keep this coming. ST staylor@sky.net
------------------------------ From: patty@gdb.org Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 11:57:58 -0500 Message-Id: <9604031657.AA08407@musichead.gdb.org> Subject: Old punks also don't get much respect From Mark Fisher: The new issue of Q magazine (UK) comes with a free book - The Q Bok of Punk Legends - which features potted biographies of 26 bands with some vague punk connection - Adam and the Ants, Costello, Talking Heads and, you've guessed it, those well-known punk heroes, XTC. The band gets five pages of pretty well researched stuff (though little that the average Chalkie won't already know), taking us from 1977 to the release of A Testimonial Dinner (not bad given the latter hasn't been released over here). From me: Well, it's about time, she huffs. I gave up buying _Q_ regularly a few years ago for several reasons, one being that they seem to have one or more members of the staff sleeping with Sting and/or Bob Geldof on a regular basis, as they seemed to be in steady rotation with U2 for constantly appearing on the cover. What really blew _Q_'s street cred for me, though, was when they referred to AP's collaboration with Harold Budd as being the first thing he'd done since _Oranges and Lemons_! Harumph. And they'd reviewed _Nonsuch_ when it came out--three stars, I believe. Talk about XTC getting no respect in their own land--here was a classic example. I wonder who's on the cover of the magazine itself--I'm guessing Sting? -Patty
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-95 ******************************
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